The rhythm of the seasons is with us and its time for the "Summer Dog Brothers Gathering of the Pack". On behalf of the Council of Elders of the Dog Brothers, Dog Brothers Inc. hereby cordially invites all people of good spirit to its "Dog Brothers Open Gathering of the Pack" at 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at:

This is not far from last year's location so similar hotel arrangements should apply.

I am very happy with the fight area-- in my opinion it is the best indoor fight area we have ever had. Two sides of the fight area are padded walls, one side is a cagefight type fence, and the fourth side is a waist high version thereof. Fighters, please note that Gokor takes VERY seriously the cleanliness and condition of his fight area. Therefore ONLY wrestling shoes (white soled preferred) or bare feet will be allowed. You will be required to remove them before exiting the fight area and put them back on upon returning to it, so bringing sandals of some sort along may be a good idea.

The viewing experience is also the best indoor experience we have ever had. There will be bleachers on two sides of the fight area and a balcony over looking from a third side. The donation at the door will be $15. Please remember that this will be a good opportunity to pick up our DVDs, sticks, clothing (including the new "Kali Tudo" MMA shorts and rash guards) and other items at special prices.

Concerning parking: The Hayastan Academy's parking lot is relatively small,so most of you will be parking on surface streets. On a Sunday morning thisshould present no problem, but please plan your time accordingly.

The Magic Words:

The MAGIC WORDS: "No judges, no referees, no trophies. One rule only: Be friends at the end of the day. This means our goal is that no one spends the night in the hospital. Our goal is that everyone leaves with the IQ with which they came. No suing no one for no reason for nothing no how no way!Real Contact Stickfighting is Dangerous and only you are responsible for you, so protect yourself at all times. All copyright belongs to Dog Brothers Inc. CA law applies."

THIS MATTER OF ACCEPTING ALL RISKS APPLIES TO THOSE OF YOU OBSERVING AS WELL!!!

For example, sticks, and fights for that matter, may go flying into the crowd. Parents should consider things like this in deciding whether a child is old enough to bring along and/or deciding on from where to observe the event. If a stick or a fight comes careening your way know that the fight has right of way-- it is on you to get out of the way! If you are sitting in or near the front row, we will not make fun of you if you wear protective headgear!

As always, NO VIDEO CAMERAS and NO DUAL PURPOSE CAMERASWILL BE ALLOWED. In God we trust, everyone else NO DUAL PURPOSECAMERAS. If you see someone cheating, please let us know!!! We are veryappreciative when you help look out for us!

We will continue starting the knife fights with a handshake and the knives undrawn and analogous ideas. Concerning the knife fighting, there is a relevant thread at http://dogbrothers.com/phpBB2/index.php?topic=1296.0 We will have some "Shocknife" knives on hand and so it looks like we will be able to have electric knife vs. electric knife fights (as long as they last!). In lieu of the shock knives, aluminum blades are encouraged. Perhaps thiswill help induce more realistic behavior during the knife fights!

We encourage you to fight knife versus stick-- the stick versus electric knife is always exciting. Stick vs. knife has been one of perennial questions of the FMA, so let's continue the research! Also, please feel free to hide a knife on your person and surprise your opponent with it during the stickfights. Remember that you may fight with weapons other than a stick if you can find someone willing to go against you. Please consider staff, double stick, and anything else. At the most recent Euro Gathering we had aThree Section Staff enter the fray. In order to more deeply explore certain variables, fighters may agree to "no grappling" rules. In staff and other heavy weapon fights the fighters may wear wrestling type ear guards under the fencing masks.

As always, there is no charge for fighters but FIGHTERS MUST PRE-REGISTER, even if they have fought before-- no handing in registrationsat the door! WE WILL BE RUTHLESS ON THIS!

Classified Ad: Help WantedSept Gathering: Seeking Dog, C-Dog or Named Dog only to fight or at least discuss the possibility of fighting "Garden Hose with Brass Fittings vs. Garden Hose with Brass Fittings". I'm thinking 6ft black rubber with standard brass fittings on either end. I would make up duplicate weapons and mail out to opponent in time for getting familiar with it. Use it like whip, fold and strike with brass fittings end, fold and strike with loop end, interesting possibilities for chokes, trips, hog tie(?) etc.,etc.

Any interest please email (not PM) Click on my name at left of this message to find my email. Thanks.

Classified Ad: Help WantedSept Gathering: Seeking Dog, C-Dog or Named Dog only to fight or at least discuss the possibility of fighting "Garden Hose with Brass Fittings vs. Garden Hose with Brass Fittings". I'm thinking 6ft black rubber with standard brass fittings on either end. I would make up duplicate weapons and mail out to opponent in time for getting familiar with it. Use it like whip, fold and strike with brass fittings end, fold and strike with loop end, interesting possibilities for chokes, trips, hog tie(?) etc.,etc.

Any interest please email (not PM) Click on my name at left of this message to find my email. Thanks.

-Howie

Howie,

I got ya Brother. YOur number 5 on my current list and you are allowed to bring whateva you want to the table.

[Note: I started (and deleted) a new thread with this topic because I confused this thread with the fighter registration thread -- which has been locked. Sorry for any confusion.]

Can anyone point me to an example of a relatively inexpensive wrestling shoe whose sole definitely complies with the venue's requirements. I've never bought wrestling shoes before, and I'm also unsure as to exactly how a 'white' sole would be specified -- and whether that is different from a normal 'non-black' sole, etc. Basically, I'd like to wear shoes and don't want to spend a lot of money on it. Suggestions?

Sorry for the additional expense for those who do not already have wrestling shoes. What suggestions for them? (BTW do not get too hung up over sole color; non-black would be preferred but do not worry should yours be black.)

I picked up a pair of Asics Split Second 7 wrestling shoes on sale. They have two rubber areas on the sole, one is clear and the other is natural rubber color. The salesman assured me they are non-marking. At $50 these seem like pretty good quality, and I'm sure I will get future use out of them given that their mat-safe -- so no worries about the expense, etc. If anyone else is thinking about ordering online, they seem to run narrow. I got an 11, which I sometimes have to for width only -- and they still feel tight. However, I'm also assured that they stretch out quickly. Hopefully that information will be useful for someone.

Although there has been a welcomed swell in the number of Gathering fighters in the last five years, many were there for a single fight, and in some cases, only one or perhaps more knife fights. Also, it is a lot harder to fight several rounds over a period of four hours than the same number over two hours. It's just hard to be amped up for such a long time span.

Although there has been a welcomed swell in the number of Gathering fighters in the last five years, many were there for a single fight, and in some cases, only one or perhaps more knife fights. Also, it is a lot harder to fight several rounds over a period of four hours than the same number over two hours. It's just hard to be amped up for such a long time span.

Woof Baltic Dog and Aloha,

Could I be forward and ask if you could eleborate on your experiences with hose fighting. Maybe another thread if this is not the place or even a PM would be appreciated.

It is through Boo Dog's relation with Gokor that we get to use Gokor's gym.

Boo Dog writes:

The shoe wearing things goes like this...

1) Only wrestling shoes or bare feet on the mat. This is due to the skin diseases that grapplers contract due to bacteria, viruses, and germs brought onto the mat from regular floor surfaces. These mats are highly used, so a lot of care is taken in keeping them clean.

2) If you are wearing wrestling shoes, don't wear them off the mat. Many people wear wrestling shoes on the way to the gym, walking around the parking lot, walking around the gym, into the bathroom, and in the waiting areas. You wouldn't believe the surprise then when we tell them they can't use those shoes on the mat. Without thinking, they have essentially turned them into street shoes. So after a fight, take them off when leaving the mat area.

3) For the same reason, if you are fighting in bare feet, when you leave the mat put some flip flops, sandels, or even your street shoes on so the bottom of your feet don't become as bad as street shoes. Then when reentering the mat area, take off those shoes. This also means don't walk around in bare feet before you enter the mat to fight as well.

4) There is a cage and boxing ring that guys can use for warmups. This same rule applies for these areas. You can use street shoes around them but before entering them, treat them as you would the mat area.

All of this is for your, and the other people using this gym's protection. It has nothing to do with formality or ritual let me assure you. This is a hard core MMA gym. This procedure is about not having anyone loose precious workout time before a fight due to a skin disease. Outdoors, this wouldn't matter. Nature has a way of taking care of this kind of thing on its own. But inside a heavily used, closed environment like this one, the germs just sit there and fester on the mats until you rub your face on it in the middle of a grappling session or fight. They clean them every day, but there is no way to undue the damage wearing contaminated shoes on the mat has done.

Hope this helps clear up the shoe policy for this gathering. The venue is amazing. We just need to leave it in the condition that we found it so we can continue to have the gatherings there.

Wow I never thought of wearing shoes that way. Makes perfect sense though. Perhaps maybe some sanitizer and a roll of towels by the mat would be good that way ppl could do a quick wipe of the bottoms of their shoes before entering the fighting area.

It is through Boo Dog's relation with Gokor that we get to use Gokor's gym.

Boo Dog writes:

The shoe wearing things goes like this...

1) Only wrestling shoes or bare feet on the mat. This is due to the skin diseases that grapplers contract due to bacteria, viruses, and germs brought onto the mat from regular floor surfaces. These mats are highly used, so a lot of care is taken in keeping them clean.

2) If you are wearing wrestling shoes, don't wear them off the mat. Many people wear wrestling shoes on the way to the gym, walking around the parking lot, walking around the gym, into the bathroom, and in the waiting areas. You wouldn't believe the surprise then when we tell them they can't use those shoes on the mat. Without thinking, they have essentially turned them into street shoes. So after a fight, take them off when leaving the mat area.

3) For the same reason, if you are fighting in bare feet, when you leave the mat put some flip flops, sandels, or even your street shoes on so the bottom of your feet don't become as bad as street shoes. Then when reentering the mat area, take off those shoes. This also means don't walk around in bare feet before you enter the mat to fight as well.

4) There is a cage and boxing ring that guys can use for warmups. This same rule applies for these areas. You can use street shoes around them but before entering them, treat them as you would the mat area.

All of this is for your, and the other people using this gym's protection. It has nothing to do with formality or ritual let me assure you. This is a hard core MMA gym. This procedure is about not having anyone loose precious workout time before a fight due to a skin disease. Outdoors, this wouldn't matter. Nature has a way of taking care of this kind of thing on its own. But inside a heavily used, closed environment like this one, the germs just sit there and fester on the mats until you rub your face on it in the middle of a grappling session or fight. They clean them every day, but there is no way to undue the damage wearing contaminated shoes on the mat has done.

Hope this helps clear up the shoe policy for this gathering. The venue is amazing. We just need to leave it in the condition that we found it so we can continue to have the gatherings there.

Could I be forward and ask if you could eleborate on your experiences with hose fighting.

Woof Kaju Dog,

Although I tried only one hose fight with Bart Hubbard at a past Gathering , I've been experimenting with thick black rubber hose fights at my own fighting events. We've tried the thin 3/4" clear hose and the thick black 1 .. 1.5" in diameter, all available from Home Depot. The fights are with WEKAF masks for sound, visibility and to allow bare-handed fighting that would be grated into mozzarella on the face mesh of a fencing mask. Shirt-free and glove-free fights allow for maximum pain. The thin hose is too whippy, though longer lengths provide plenty of sting. The thicker hose fights are more fun. Are you planning such a fight?

Also, we've tried some chain fights with lighter grade chains. They leave excellent welt patterns, but the sharp burrs should be sanded down as they cut and tear the skin too much. There is an image of my friend Peter with fading leg pattern the first time we tried the chains with shirts. Take the picture immediately after the fight, not 30 minutes later.

Woof, The open Gathering quickly approaches. Its is the only Open gathering here in the U.S. this year. So If your New to the Gatherings or on the fence about fighting, Allow me to encourage you to take the plunge and give it a go.A experience like this, there is none like it. So get that registration in and come on out.

Bringing this over from the members forum, we are planning a pre fight dinner on Saturday night before the Gathering, a kind of meet and greet if you will.Fighters and their family's friends and loved ones are all welcome.If you would like to attend we would be glad to have you. Please make your intentions known.Guro Crafty will set the location for the dinner base on the projected number of people planning to attend.....so sound off! the adventure continues!! WOOF! C-HD

Woof - I will be at the dinner with my dad - he introduced me to kali over 20 yrs ago, although I didn't train in it then - still that's pretty cool after all this time to make the trip this way. Looking forward to meeting folks and putting some faces to names.

Lets no get too hung up on the numbers. There's always some last minute cases of vaginitis , , ,

True, Not even antibiotics can cure this disease.

TTT=

Quote

Bringing this over from the members forum, we are planning a pre fight dinner on Saturday night before the Gathering, a kind of meet and greet if you will.Fighters and their family's friends and loved ones are all welcome.If you would like to attend we would be glad to have you. Please make your intentions known.

GC, We will bring 2 Anyone else on the fence about the dinner, Esp first time fighters. Come...you will be glad you did. C-HD

Hi, I faxed my reg form yesterday, but I'm not showing up on the list yet.

My name is Shawn, and I'm one of Pappy dog's students and I train with the NoHo group.

To be on the safe side, I'm having somebody fax it again from another fax machine in case the one I used was on the fritz. If for some reason you didn't get it, what else should I do? I don't want to miss my first gathering!

I know lots of us like black shirts, but if both fighters are wearing a black shirt it makes the fight footage very hard to follow if the range closes. If you can, please wear some other color, or bring a non-black shirt as well as a black shirt.